Clinton To Regulate Tobacco As A Drug

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- President Bill Clinton plans to accept a recommendation from the Food and Drug Administration to declare tobacco an addictive drug, administrative sources said today.

The decision -- sure to provoke a storm of protest from the tobacco industry -- will mean that tobacco could be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration because of its nicotine content.

Administration sources say there is no intent to ban or restrict the sale of cigarettes to adults. Officials are most concerned about use of cigarettes by youngsters and advertising that entices people under 18 to begin smoking.

The move's practical effect could be to give the government greater power to restrict such advertising.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who was at the White House for the signing of health care reform legislation, said he would welcome such a move. (128K WAV sound)

"It's a very courageous action on his (Clinton's) part, and nothing could be important in terms of the public health of the American citizen than this kind of activity," Kennedy told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Kennedy called tobacco "a gateway drug" that leads to abuse of illegal drugs.

"This is going right to the core, to the very young in our society, so this would be a very bold, significant and important action by the president," Kennedy said.

"Nicotine is addictive. I think the president taking this action deserves a lot of credit for it," the lawmaker added. (192K WAV sound)

A review by the Office of Management and Budget still must be completed, but an announcement by the president could come as soon as Friday.

Clinton aides think the move will be a vote-getter in this election year, although they also expect criticism from the industry and from tobacco-producing states.

The order could also focus renewed attention on Republican rival Robert Dole's comments earlier this summer when he questioned whether nicotine was necessarily addictive. After that, Democrats attacked him, a costumed "Mr. Butt Man" began attending Dole rallies, and the candidate frittered away time on the campaign trail trying to clarify his comments.

Clinton To Regulate Tobacco As A Drug

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